“No, Em. I’d say you got the better version. Remember, I worked with the guy. He was all about his operations and the next assignments before Natalia died. After that, he didn’t have the heart for the spy game anymore. He was on his way out of that life when he met you.”
Emily’s lips turned up into a small, grateful smile, her eyes still moist with tears.
“I recall the day he came into the office at Langley and told me about meeting you.” Isabel brushed a stray curl back from Emily’s face. “There was something different about him. He had a spark in his eyes that I hadn’t seen in a very long time.”
“I appreciate you sharing that with me, Is.” Emily put an arm around her friend’s shoulder and gave her a quick hug.
“He really did love you a lot, Em.”
She nodded slightly. “Maybe now I can finally move on without having to keep looking over my shoulder.”
“I’m sure Colin will be glad to hear that.”
CHAPTER 24
The next day, Molly was scheduled to be released from the hospital around noon. Camille let all her friends know and hoped they would help with a small welcome-home party for the girl. Since Camille and Jonathan would be at the hospital most of the morning with Molly, she asked Maggie to handle all the party arrangements.
Happy to help, Maggie took care of the food while Peter decorated the entry and family room with pink and purple balloons and streamers. He strung a big welcome-home sign across the garage doors with a couple of balloons on each side.
With Maggie in charge, the menu would not be up to Camille’s high standards as a chef, but Cam wasn’t there to prepare it. Maggie figured the food should be what Molly liked, so she arranged to have a variety of different pizzas delivered and she bought all the fixings for a help-yourself ice cream sundae bar. As a personal trainer, this was the type of food Maggie usually worked hard to avoid, but this party wasn’t about her. It was all about Molly.
Colin swung by Emily’s house and picked her up. When they arrived at Camille’s, Isabel and Alex were already there, helping to lay out the stack of dishes, glasses, and silverware on one corner of the table where the pizzas would sit.
“Hey, guys,” Emily said with a bright smile as she and Colin breezed into the house. “Everything looks fabulous!” Emily gave Maggie and Isabel a quick squeeze.
Maggie was setting out a variety of toppings for the sundaes along the breakfast bar, leaving room for the multiple selections of ice cream.
“What can we do to help?” Colin asked.
“Hello, Colin.” Peter shook his hand.
“Hey, Andrews,” Alex called out, perched on a stepstool, retrieving a bowl from the top shelf of one of the tall kitchen cabinets. “Glad you could make it.”
“I think we’re just about set, Colin.” Maggie replied to his offer. “Camille called and said they’re on their way from the hospital, and the pizza should be here any minute.”
“Pizza and ice cream. Camille’s not going to like that,” Emily teased.
“It’s not about Camille, it’s about Molly, and y’all know that girl loves her pizza and ice cream.”
“Always has,” Peter added.
“Oh, to be young and able to burn up those calories,” Isabel lamented.
“Too bad some of her friends couldn’t be here,” Emily said.
“Remember, it’s a school day,” Isabel reminded her.
“Not to worry. Camille said her friends are planning somethin’ for her tomorrow night.” Maggie set a bowl of colorful M&Ms on the breakfast bar. “Oh, my. I think I just heard a car door shut.”
The gang moved toward the living room to check. The front door opened and Molly walked through first.
“Molly! You’re home!” Maggie gushed, giving her a big hug.
Emily and Isabel took their turns welcoming her home, as well, and greeting Camille and Jonathan. Alex and Colin both shook Jonathan’s hand.
Peter stepped up and pulled his niece into a warm bear hug. “Glad to see you home, pip-squeak.”
The doorbell rang and Maggie rushed to answer it. Standing there, with a stack of pizza boxes, was the delivery man.
“That’ll be eighty-six dollars and twenty-eight cents.”
Maggie dug in her pocket for the money. Peter stepped up behind her. “Let me get that, Maggie.” He handed the man two fifty dollar bills and took the pizzas from him. “Keep the change.”
“You didn’t need to do that.” Maggie smiled as she